The Portland daily press., 1887-10-28

eye and allure the reader and who spare no ex-
pense IN paper ana printers ink. No circular or
bulletin should be issued by our Association
which Is not necessary, likely to be really use
full and whatever it gives to the public should be
not only carefully prepared and wisely measured
with reference TO the time of busy men. but made
attractive TO the eye, and thus less easy to con.
sign, unread. TO the waste-basket.
AS regards the monthly magazine, its influence
and value receive full recognition yet not too
ful--in the secretary's paper, But his estimate
Of its effectiveness Is based on the superstition
that rs readi and 80 the question arises, How
shall IL secure readers? The paper proposes that
people be urged to read" urged, presumably by
pastors, many Of whom do not read 1t themselves.
Like other periodicals of our day. missionary
magazines must TO a certain extent make their
own market. No body urges people TO read the
great daiies, or the great illustrated monthlies,
and II younger aSpiiants for public favor are
pushed by agents, 1t is not on the grouna that to
read them Is a duty their intrinsic value, their
attractiyeness is made the basis of the plea. The
available field for a missionary magazine has its
obvious limits; 1t can not from the nature OF the
case compete with the great monthlies, or even
with the weekly religious newspapers, but within
the recognized limits its succeSs-the extent TO
which II Is read--must depend upon its intrinsic
attractions. The paper says that the
Associations magazine is not rejected ON its mer-
its. We agree with him. yet it remains true
that Il Is not read because 1t fails TO win and al
lure readers.
nomination Is as well done as we have any right to
expect under present arrangements. 1t IS the
task OF a secretary who Is already oyerburdened
WI Mitn WORK whose eaiorlal skill may be inferior 70
MS other gifts, and who must achieve the task at
ODD moments, snatched from moIe pressing du-
ties. Ought not these periodicals. to be under a
Inherent management? And ought not more at
tentlon to be given TO their external appearance
aud general make up?" There Is no field in
which more progress has been made during the
last twenty years than in the issues Of the period
zeal press-their literary quality, their printing
and their illustrations. In all these respects eur
missionary magazines are decidedly behind the
leliQNe
involved considerable pecunlary outlay, 70 bring
them more nearly abb east of the worlds best
Thls view of he case brings before us ouestion
which has been considered In our Churches
heretofore, and in refeieuce to which action has
recently been taken In our sister denominations
t 81 the rfespyieran orderLnamely the consolida
thnr ., 1Hr several missionary magazines, and
This matter has already been referred 10 in one III
our sessions. II is to be discussed two weeks
hence by the General Conference Of Connecticut.
cay in thieves Of the Secretaries Of the seyer
societies yet we believe it comments Itself to a
demand psfp ana until ksy 70
secured Wonld II mot ! 3 . hit If wise antern,ise
on The part Of this association to take the ntis
tive 10 the movement suggested9 '''''
In regard to two OF the points included in the
secretary's paper. and in the foregoing review If
it, we desire to offer the following resolutions:
hesolped, That we submit to the Congregational
nj az b u lor caIe
Sirahle that such conferences asfahlieh snacial
committees. whose duty Il shall he 10 secure for
this Association, along with tie other benevolent
societies of the denomination, a hearing from time
to time IN our churches, especially in those
dr tSis when are Without pastors ana which
mtv towarS onr ereat sn " ~ oe,
Organisations. "AN o'o'''''
ResoIred. That the SECRETARIES of This assoeia.
ton. at an early day, secure conference of the
secretaries OF the several Congregational soce-
tles, with reference to the consolidation of oul
missionary magazines and that they report the
result OF sucn conference at the next annual meet
ing.
The first of thsse was adontad tho sooond
vas old ~, the tab,a No "1oP'e'' 'no eeoonu
"T eTh ,"i sa' oil az; ;ns .aoie.
a., ns coihnist t vh nominations presented
tue names OF the following board OF officers
Tor the ensuing year, and their report was
accepted:
Vice prasidan,s pavs II p,, =,
n W Sdohse r. a, u r. penreMuss u
zip N n Mass N - 49, NJ, III. 1Aie a MSheii
Ham,, 9 ~, ns' II i, NJ "eais' ~ ~, MASS
Cnryye s,opndiiho, e. c ~, mv, po n,
n n fsn,as p66 1e1 ~ ~ NJ y. SbIieD,
se p,a oa U.s.. owyii ~. ~, a. L. beaio u. D.
% T reauu s,legs' u,hn.ra re- se pa,
straet ~ u w. nupparu' Esq, % heads
stiee1, ~. 4. ,.,,.
Afsuui.oi - eter mcodrtee, Shafies L. felrce.